Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, May 25, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

 

Members of the Spring Valley Business Alliance (SVBA) approached the Spring Valley City Council during the May 8 regular city council meeting to present a proposal for installing bollards and seating at the corners along the sidewalks on downtown Broadway Avenue.

“The Broadway Project” is, according to its proponents, an effort to slow traffic and make downtown Spring Valley a friendlier destination. SVBA member Dan Freeman approached the councilors and had fellow SVBA members unfurl two large “postcard” banners that show downtown Spring Valley as it stands today, and he explained that the SVBA was formed for “the whole purpose of fostering growth, improving and advocating for businesses.” SVBA members have proposed the project partly because Spring Valley is growing and has come to host numerous special events throughout the year, including the SVBA’s Wednesdays on Broadway monthly downtown farmers’ summer market event, Fins and Films – which is a draw for people coming from out of town and out of state, Ag Days, Christmas on Historic Broadway and the new SVBA winter market event.

Furthermore, though, business owners Alex and Jenn Slifka shared, downtown Spring Valley’s one-way street still bottlenecks into a rather dangerous place for pedestrians attempting to cross the street while motorists are in a hurry to get into or out of parking spaces and through downtown without having a crash themselves. Alex Slifka stated that “my wife’s business has quite a few older clients who have difficulty with access on Broadway,” noting that Jenn’s salon is among several businesses that older individuals frequent downtown because of the return of commerce to the once-empty storefronts.

Jenn Slifka added, “The main goal is to turn downtown into more of community gathering space. We still want people to park there, but a lot of people come flying through downtown.”

Freeman concurred that the project is a traffic maintenance attempt and a means by which to grow neighborliness and hospitality. “This is community-building, essentially. We have a busy schedule this summer. Wednesdays on Broadway…not to sound like ‘Field of Dreams,’ but we figured that ‘if we build it, people will come.’ And Wednesdays on Broadway has exceeded our expectations. I saw people I haven’t seen since I graduated high school. I see a lot of networking and a lot of catching up.”

Jenn Slifka said, “Our hope with The Broadway Project is if it works, we can get more music and events downtown. We’ve got the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Brave Community Theatre (BCT) on board with this project. We want to make it a community gathering place. We’ve asked the Spring Valley Garden Club for help.”

SVBA member Greg Melartin spoke up. “I’m part of the SVBA, but my business isn’t downtown. But I recently was in Oregon, and I saw what we’re proposing. It works. A city’s downtown is its heart, and this heart is pumping.  Let’s keep it moving.”

Councilor Luan Ruesink wanted to know if the additions the SVBA sought would be temporary throughout downtown, likely so that if the endeavor didn’t meet expectations, it could be shifted, and the group confirmed that “temporary” is the current operating word. Freeman told the council, “Rather than coming to you asking for you to give us money, we’re willing to put in money.”

Jenn Slifka interjected, “If we get some people interested in doing some art, maybe we can get people from the school to do some, or maybe we can [have help from the] garden club.”

City Administrator Deb Zimmer asked the councilors whether they felt that a special meeting might be useful in ascertaining how to collaborate with the SVBA to make the proposal work for Spring Valley. “We’ll have a special meeting to talk just about that.”

Ambulance co-director Sue Puffer stated that the Spring Valley Ambulance Service had had a very busy April. “We had 38 calls last month…we have six [emergency medical technician/EMT] students who passed their practical exams and have their national exams next. We had the pancake breakfast and served close to 450 plates. Tami Edgar has submitted her resignation after 21 years.” The co-director and the councilors each thanked Edgar for her dedication to being available when Spring Valley area emergencies arose and individuals needed her reassuring presence.

Spring Valley Fire Chief Dustin Johnson took his turn, telling the council that the fire department had participated in a missing persons search, dealt with vehicular accidents, held a live-burn house fire training, practiced automobile extrications and managed a controlled grass burn. He announced that longtime firefighter Mike Lee retired from the crew on April 30 after 30 years, and he and the council took the opportunity to extend their gratitude to Lee and his family for their respective dedication and understanding.

Also, the May law enforcement report encompassed “a lot of dog problems” and various junk violation concerns.

Resident Wayne Isenberg stood during his turn as a visitor, registering once more his frustration with neighbors who continually have a fire in their backyard and, apparently, do not respect the peace after dark while motoring about on a lawn tractor. Isenberg went on to point out that he has seen properties around Spring Valley that are not pleasing to his eye and that he feels that the City ought to be paying closer attention to such.

Further law enforcement conversations were ongoing about whether Spring Valley ought to maintain its own squad cars or turn over that responsibility to the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department, which uses a lease-to-own program through Enterprise Fleet. Sheriff John DeGeorge had appeared before the council during the previous months’ meetings to elaborate on the concept and the potential savings that may exist with handing the keys over for the county to manage. He summarized that if the City were to do what others in the county that hold policing contracts through the sheriff’s department have done, keeping three squad cars in good working order should cost approximately $42,000 a year, or $14,000 each. He added that having the squad cars available to deputies assigned to patrol Spring Valley would be of benefit because no matter what vehicle deputies are driving, they’d be bound to the same hours of duty in Spring Valley for which the city has contracted, with travel time to and from town not included. The ongoing and growing shortage of law enforcement hiring candidates has exacerbated the department’s ability to find deputies who can be dedicated to one town’s contract.

Questions were raised as to whether transitioning to having the county operate leased vehicles would affect Spring Valley’s contract in that an officer may be patrolling Spring Valley but be called away to another location. DeGeorge responded that the City is paying for 19 hours of daily patrolling and that that is what is guaranteed. The topic wound to a close for the month as the council chose to table it until the June meeting.

Economic Development Authority (EDA) news given by EDA staff Chris Hahn involved an update on the improvements to the City’s disc golf course. Hahn reported that he and others had walked the course and checked the disc golf baskets and specific tenets of the course. Ruesink commented that she was “really impressed that this project included the high school students” in the creation of signs made for the course by the ag and art classes.

Other business included the council approving a renewal of the Kasten farm rental agreement. Spring Valley owns an acreage on the northwest end of town and has rented it out to a farmer who expressed interest in extending the contract to nine years. The council agreed to the extension. Spring Valley’s City Council gathers on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Carnegie building downtown.

For more information, log onto the Spring Valley City website at www.springvalley-mn.com, or call 507-346-7367.

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

 

 

Click here to read the May Newsletter!

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, April 27, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has chosen Garrison Hubka as a recipient of one of its spring Kiwanis Academic Excellence Awards. He is the son of Jim and Sally Hubka.

The Kingsland senior is active in cross country, basketball, track, Key Club and National Honor Society (NHS). “Cross country and track are definitely my favorites. I used to play football, and I was in HOSA and Knowledge Bowl. My favorite class is Personal Finance because I can learn some real things.”

Outside of school, he’s employed at a local bank. “I work at Home Federal. I enjoy the atmosphere and personable interactions. I don’t do a whole lot outside of school, sports and clubs. In my spare time, I run, watch movies, take naps and play video games…my only frequent hobby is running. My favorite books are ‘The Maze Runner’ series because it is just like the movies, but better, and my favorite movie is ‘The Maze Runner’ because it is very unique and exciting. I listen to whatever is on the radio that I like – usually 106.9 or 105.3. My biggest pet peeve is if someone is picking their nose.”

He added that he most enjoys pasta. “I could live on variations of pasta, but I hate hot dogs. If I could travel to any country in the world, I would go someplace safe with a beach, like the Caribbean. And I have never spent time in California, so I would probably go there, too.”

The 18-year-old most admires Steve Prefontain, his father, and Martin Luther King, Jr. “They either have motivated me, helped me, or changed the world for the better.” If he could do one thing to change the world, he’d choose to “fix climate change or stop war so that humans will have a place to live in the future.” He has plans for his post-post-secondary life, sharing, “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a scientist, but I want to coach after I graduate college.”

The Kiwanis will honor Garrison and his parents during one of the club’s upcoming noon meetings held on Wednesdays at the Spring Valley Community Center. The club welcomes visitors who would like to learn more about becoming members of the Kiwanis organization.

 

 

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, April 27, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

 

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has selected Andrew Imm as one of its five spring Kiwanis Academic Excellence Award recipients. He is the son of Craig and Karen Imm of Spring Valley.

The Kingsland senior participates in Key Club, National Honor Society (NHS), cross country and track and field. “Track and field is my favorite,” he noted, adding that “my favorite subject would have to be any history class, and my least favorite would have to be any English class.”

He listed, “I currently work for Kwik Trip. The best part of working there is the people I get to work with and meeting all sorts of new people. Activities I do out of school would mostly be hanging out with friends or going biking. In my spare time, I like to draw or play on my computer. I don’t have a favorite book, but I enjoy the book series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire.’ It’s my favorite because I like the author, and it’s the source material for one of my favorite TV shows. My favorite movie would have to be one of the ‘Marvel’ movies. I don’t think I have a specific favorite.”

He continued, “I listen to a wide variety of music. I don’t have a specific genre that I listen to. Normally, it’s just whatever I feel like at the time. I’ll pretty much listen to anything. I don’t have a favorite food, so I’ll say the basic thing and choose pizza. Anything with beans grosses me out – I hate them and can’t eat them. My biggest pet peeve is when someone announces they have a secret or they make some sort of emotion to gain attention, and then they don’t even tell you what. One thing that others can know about me is that I enjoy being outside, whether running or biking.”

If he could have free airfare to any country in the world, he’d go to the one shaped like a boot. “If I could travel to any country, it’d probably be Italy because I’d love to visit Rome. If I could go to any state, I would travel to Arkansas because it’s a fun state and I have some friends that live down there.”

Imm, 18, most admires three people. “Three people I admire the most are my father, Garrison Hubka and Lisa Glynn.” He shared, “If I could do one thing to change the world, I’d hope everyone’s kinder to each other. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a dentist just because I thought their offices were cool and they made a lot of money. Now, I don’t want to because I hate [going to] dentists. I’d like to become an engineer after college. I’m not sure what jobs that would entail, but I enjoy math and physics in school, so I figured that would be a good place to start.”

The Kiwanis will honor Andrew and his parents at an upcoming noon meeting at the Spring Valley Community Center. The club meets on Wednesdays and welcomes prospective members who are interested in serving the community and the children of the world.

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, April 27, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

 

On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese, we fundraised with first aid, played dodgeball and learned to patch knees.

“They have been working hard to fundraise, including a spaghetti dinner this [past] weekend, and they will also be doing a first aid kit fundraiser soon, as well as potentially a dodgeball tournament. Details are still being worked out, but their goal is to raise $5,000, and seven students will be heading down to the International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, in June to represent Kingsland and the state of Minnesota,” cited Kingsland Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) advisor Kevin Geer. She highlighted that the Kingsland chapter of HOSA has a collection of students focused on facilitating travel through selling platefuls of spaghetti, rounding up first aid kits, and kicking it together as organizers of their proposed dodgeball tournament, all activities meant to underwrite the chapter’s mission to fulfill HOSA’s official purpose.

According to the HOSA website, “The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration and experience. The purpose of HOSA-Future Health Professionals is to develop leadership and technical HOSA skill competencies through a program of motivation, awareness and recognition, which is an integral part of the Health Science Education instructional program. The goals that HOSA believes are vital to each member are to promote physical, mental and social well-being; to develop effective leadership qualities and skills; to develop the ability to communicate more effectively with people; to develop character; to develop responsible citizenship traits; to understand the importance of pleasing oneself as well as being of service to others; to build self-confidence and pride in one’s work; to make realistic career choices and seek successful employment in the healthcare field; to develop an understanding of the importance in interacting and cooperating with other students and organizations; to encourage individual and group achievement; to develop an understanding of current health care issues, environmental concerns and survival needs of the community, the nation and the world; to encourage involvement in local, state and national health care and education projects; to support Health Science Edu[1]cation instructional objectives and to promote career opportunities in health care.”

The site listed the organization’s core values, including learning – “We are committed to learning and becoming respected, knowledgeable and skilled health professionals…we will respect the experiences and contributions of our teachers, peers and patients and seek to learn from them.” Leadership and service also register among HOSA’s core values. “We will serve as role models in our academic program, profession and community. We will be ethical, accountable and trustworthy. We will use our influence to empower others to strive for excellence. We value service. We are dedicated to serving others with compassion. We believe that individuals are important, and we will treat everyone with respect and care.” Finally, it stated, “We value innovation. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of others. We will continuously seek the knowledge and skills to address challenges and improve the health professions.”

Geer, Kingsland’s life science and biology instructor, is proud of his HOSA students for their dedication, curiosity and willingness to try new HOSA health projects and competitions. “Primarily, our activities have been spent practicing various events to prepare for competitions, trying out new events and practicing the ones that they are signed up for. This year, we have had 15 active members, and they have participated in many different events including HOSA Bowl – a Knowledge Bowl-style event where they compete in medical based trivia, emergency medical technician (EMT), parliamentary procedure, extemporaneous writing, persuasive writing and speaking, public speaking, forensic science, and more.” He added, “The state conference was good – we almost did not make it up there due to bad weather” …but they were able to get the high school students there to complete. “Our Parliamentary Procedure team placed first and will be advancing on to the International Leadership Conference in Dallas.”

Previous HOSA projects over the chapter’s nearly five-year history have included learning about biology and medical procedures, holding a teddy bear drive for the Spring Valley Ambulance Service to help EMTs approach and assist children and individuals with special needs, and gaining leadership skills.

Geer previously commented on the chapter’s membership during a prior school year, stating that participation in H has numerous benefits, such as preparing students for their future careers – or not. “For some of them, it is about finding what they want to do or sometimes, more importantly, what they don’t want to do in the future. They get exposed to so many things that they would never see in school normally. They get to collaborate with students from other schools and learn from each other.” He remarked that he enjoys advising HOSA for “the enthusiasm of the kids,” and added, “The kids involved are interested in the medical field and want to learn more about it. They are excited to learn and then even more excited to show it off. The more excited they are, the more into it I’m able to get… they work hard but have fun. They have a great attitude and are setting themselves up for a very bright future.”

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325